Dishwashing apparatus having provision for automatically controlling flow of liquid



J. F. R. KARLSTROM March 10, 1953 DISHWASHING APPARATUS HAVING PROVISION FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING FLGW OF LIQUID 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed Feb. l1, 1948 March 10, 1953 J. F. R. KARLsTRoM 2,631,059

DISHWASHING APPARATUS HAVING PROVISION FOR UTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING FLOW OF LIQUID Filed Feb. l1, 1948 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Patented Mar. 10, 1953 DISHWASHiNG APPARATUS :HAVING PRO- =v1s10NgFOR 4`AUfroMf i'rICAnnY lGQNTROL- nINGrFLOW-OELIQUID `Johan iEnegrik lfiebert Katlstmm. Stocgkielm,

. sneden, assigner .to Aktiebpleget 'Elektronen Stockholm, SwedenyaI corpqration'nf Sweden rApplicat-ionEebmary 11, 1948,-5-Se1ia1-1flT0-73557 Sweden July 1), 9413 ,11 .Claims- This inneniienhs @Hmmm f dish'wasbmg machines. and partieiliari tothose-@Whiehgce :whe used in :thefhensehel inllsi-smaumms romance oLma-nualfcleansin .operatiensionfthe dishesbythenperator.

.'.Gnef of lthe objeets :tof :thefplesltfnvfnriizis to provide a machine of this character in Whig-:gh angautomatic shift; from-,thesprayingfia Weshing fiuid,f.whichf can:v besar mixtuive Waterg andfg@d suitable yfdetevgent immaterial, :to the Spraying, f clean .Tinsingfzwater,.vcanrhe had :Without reinem.- ing stoppage .ofthe-machine.

iniamachinenf this-characteran eieient spraying. mea-ns. byjwhieheaspnayingfhead -is bodily oar,- riedainsaffcircular path land; isfaisoy rotatedgwhile being.` sofcarried and .zvvhieh:will` .direct eticier a washinginuidnim jets-.on sprays against the: dishes supportedinathe s machine, or will: directjretsifor sprays..;of Aa rinsing fluid y.against -Lthe dishes 4at theanntion :of @the operaten .the .selected :fluid being spraye Joeing completely undervthe control of -.the;.operater hand; being `icansed 1110 :Joe spraydistributed within the machinemithont requiring stoippagenf theg machine while fthe Lchangeffrom ,thefspraving .ofnonefiuid tofthegotherfis being umore particularly,fthefinvention. `contemplates the fpmvisien. .of sa machine .1 having al -tdishacontainer or receptacle in which an electrioailysoperatediRotating `pumpirripellerz iseontained-,said impeiier servingitoeauserthe iboiily. movement of @spraying head1-'1n :aj-,circular pathlwithin'thecontainersorfreetaele. the imnellerabeng: Operative upon. Washingflui'dztoeause: thesamato servens a f. fiuiddriwlilg medium into propel sptheisprayin-g head in its simular path ofy movement, .,While saidasmaying; head `isfaiso beingfrotated. "Tiievin, ventionfturther contemplates the provision-:0f two separate groups of spray @openings L in :the .spizaying head, one greup' .of .l said .l epenings .fdi-

'rizctingsjetsgo .washingiuid against Lthedishes oni-y igwnile water inflow Gto the machine z :is .shut

operative to direct rinsing ,Water :against :the dishes. and awhile so spraying-the rinsing. water isnperative upon @valve .means :to prevent the spraying-.ofthe Washing fluid.

'These .and other Objects to abe hereinafter pointed nut,- vnl;e..attained-.bv.the invention, .a more gartieulardescription. `of which `:Wiile be.: set faorth helaw and denedzbyithecleims appended hereto,

gir, while 4.the v,other:yemen of.: sprayfiopenines-ris en ig. ki gin thefdileetionnfeth arriovgsz gign-Bzisa sectionaltviewtakenmmthesiinefm-S of.iig.. 5, lookinge iii-fthe., direction. iofithesarnows; and

f-Eigf 9;is .amenlargedfragmentany :View Yof Figssl tov illustrate detaiismore clearly.

:Referring to f' the drawings, the f pol-.Immer orqreeeptacie of the machine'v is shown-atZ lv, ytigre same #being nprovided. Withfa s-npperifingjk tray I l remaining sneqishesiob wasiid. sam t ispreferanlyeon-ipesed .of metaililmeshrnt Qr -of--QthelforaminonsionstruqtinnndiitisL inovaqly r`s.u; u;wrtei` within-the ggriteiiirnr eeptane w, ...and abvazthe ,nenni .meren the inner-'face of;thesisiewlnftlieiregeptele H3. `YDuring lthe operation of the inahine the iep -Qf the dishvQ .tainiriasllambsnnr rs. steel@ Hl is Closed by aizsiliteble removeblenoverinot shown. Atthe ,bottemetha resenteleivtblow the disk-holding' trey l i endhelew gthespr. ng means' to; be. gdesnbed.is.awperieretedtraier 5r drain" t2. 'The waterjereshinsjiuidisiliatd @y 'means @f .a' thermostaticalimgmrqliedngstlgg a building. The outlet conduit |8 is also connected into the frame I5.

Located concentrically within the tubular shaft I6 is a solid shaft |5. Attached to the top of the shaft l is a pump impeller 20, the lower end of the shaft i3 being connected either directly or by means of an intermediate propulsion device, to an electric motor 2|. The pump impeller 2|) is contained and rotatable within the pump housing 22 which is carried by the tubular shaft I5 and includes a lower or base portion 24, over which is secured a top or cover member 23, these two portions of the housing forming a hollow enclosure for the pump impeller and also forming a radially-extending arm 25, at the outer end of which is rotatively supported a spraying head 2G. The spraying head 25 is provided with a downwardly-extending vertical tubular shaft 21, the lower portion of which is shownin Fig. 4. Shaft 2 is rotatively mounted in a bearing sleeve or boss 28 arising from the lower or base portion 24 of the arm 25, this portion 24 being, as previously explained, an extended part of the pump housing 22.

Secured on the lower end of the tubular shaft 21 is a gear 29 in mesh with an idle gear 30 rotatively mounted in the part 24. The idle gear 30 meshes with a stationary ring gear 3| attached to a cup-shaped inverted strainer 32 mounted on the bottom |4 of the receptacle |5. The gearing, consisting of the intermeshed gears 29, 35 and 3|, is covered at the bottom by means of a cover plate 33, attached to the under side of the housing part 24, said plate 33, together with the part 24 forming a gear chamber 34.

The shape of the pump housing 22 is such that it provides a spirally shaped wash water conveying passage 36 having an upwardly projecting portion surrounded by a neck 31 over which a downwardly directed sleeve or boss 38 provided at the lower end of the spraying head 26, is accommodated. The t of the neck 31 and the sleeve or boss 38 is such that the water or washing fluid directed upwardly through the passage 36 ,will not lealc out from between the neck 31 and thesleeve or boss 38 and enter the receptacle l0. A seal, consisting of a rubber or similar gasket 39 is provided between the lower half 24 Vof the pump housing 22 and the iixed ring gear 3|. The spiral passage 36 is in communication with the' interior of the pump housing 22 and dish-washing fluid, which may consist of waterand a detergent mixed therewith, is forced through vthis passage to be sprayed against the dishes by the spraying head 2S in a manner `to be described presently. In addition, a passage 40 is provided for rinsing water, said passage 4i) being connected at one end with an annular portion 4|, composed of the space between the shaft I9 and the concentrically-arranged tubular shaft I6, said portion 4| being in communication with the water inlet I1, so that water entering from the inlet I1 will pass into the portion 4|, will enter the passage 4B and will be forced upwardly through the tubular shaft 21 to be sprayed through a pair of perforated spray tubes 42 in a manner to be presently explained.

I The spraying member or'head 26 is provided with two independent passages or channels for the respective distribution of the washing and rinsing fluids. For the spraying or distribution of the rinsing water, a pair of triangular or stirrup-shaped spray tubes 42 is provided, the shape and disposition of these tubes being clearly disclosed in Fig. 2. Each of these tubes is formed in its top area with a plurality of spaced, upwardly directed perfcrations or spray openings 43 through which the rinsing water is directed against the dishes or other articles to be washed and which are supported upon the foraminous tray H. The spray tubes 42 are situated above the top of the spraying head 25 through which the dish-washing fluid is directed and sprayed. Each of the spray tubes 42 is connected to a chamber 44 which communicates with the tubular shaft 21 so that the rinsing water directed therethrough will enter the tubes 42 and be sprayed out of the perforations 43 in jets against the dishes or other articles resting on the tray The body of the spraying head 25 is preferably,

but not necessarily, made of cast non-corrosive l metal and is of elliptical or ovate shape as seen in Fig. 2. The body of the spraying head 26 includes a lower or base portion 45 on which the sleeve 38 is provided, an intermediate frame member 45, and a top member 48. The top member 48 forms the bottom and top walls of the chamber 44. The intermediate frame 46 is grooved near its edges and in said grooves are seated straps 49, as shown in Figs. 5, '7 and 8, to form outer walls for the grooves and thus provide a channel or passage 50 for the dish-washing Y iiuid.

The lower or base portion 45 of the spraying head 25 and the portion 46 are connected by the screws 52, and the top member 48 is attached to the part 45 by the screws 53. The top member 48 constitutes a central or hub portion for the spraying member, such member 48 being secured on the tubular shaft 21 so that, when the shaft 21 is rotated by the gears 29, 35 and 3|, the spraying head 25 will also be rotated at the same time. Between the base member 45 andthe central portion of the upper part of the portion 4B are provided passages 54 which establish communication between the passage 35 and the passage 50 in the spraying head. In the spraying head 25 are provided a plurality of outlet 4or spray openings leading from the passage 5G, the spray openings indicated at 55 extending vertically and being directed upwardly, while those in the group designated at 56 extend upwardly and obliquely. Through these spray openings 55 and 55 the washing fluid is directed upwardly against and around the dishes or other articles supported on the tray The two straps 49, forming outer walls for the passage 50, are preferably composed of resilient or exible material and are installed by being slid into the grooves in the frame part 46 from either of the narrower ends of the spraying head, the 'straps being accommodated in grooves 51 in the frame part 45 of the spraying head, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. It will be noted that the straps 49 do not entirely surround the spraying head, but that each of the narrowed ends ci the Ispraying head is provided with a sealing piece 41 held in seated position by a coil spring 58 which surrounds a spindle 58a. The spring and head of the spindle 58a maintain the sealing piece in its correct position.

Provided in the spraying head 25 is a valve device controlled by the ow of rinsing water, and said device is located in a chamber formed by the top member 48 in co-operation with the central or hub portion of the frame 46, said valve device consisting of a rubber-coated differential piston 55 and a seat 65 provided in the lower member 45 of the spraying head around an ansaid valve being-disposed in `said rst passageway at aregion between said pump and said iirst spraying means to enable said member to impart movement to Vsaid spraying device when said valve is in its closed position and ilow of the rst treating liquid to said rst spraying means is shut oi.

- 2. In dish washing apparatus, a rotatable spraying device including rst spraying means having one inlet and a second spraying means having another inlet, each spraying means being formed with an independent group of discharge openings from which liquid is adapted to be sprayed against dishes and the like to be washed, said rotatable device comprising unitary structure forming a rst passageway having an inlet and communicating only with the inlet of said rst spraying means and also forming another second passageway having an inlet and communieating only with the inlet of said second spraying means, provisions for introducing liquid discharged from said first spraying means to the inlet of said rst passageway for ow therethrough and for only introducing rinsing liquid under pressure from a source of supply to the inlet of said second passageway for flow therethrough, a valve in said first passageway which is movable between open and closed positions, biasing means including a resilient element operable to move said valve toward its open position,

said valve being constructed and arranged to move toward its vclosed position against the action of said biasing means responsive to force developed by flow of rinsing liquid in said second passageway, said first passageway including a pump for eiecting ow of washing liquid from the inlet of such passageway toward said first spraying means, said pump comprising a rotatable housing forming a part of said unitary structure and a rotatable member therein for effecting such ow of washing liquid in said rst passageway, power driven means for driving said member during operation of the apparatus, the interior of said housing being formed and arranged to be acted upon by washing liquid circulated therein by said member to induce rotation of said housing and hence impart rotating movement to said spraying device,l said pump being disposed in said irst passageway ahead of said valve in the direction of ow of washing liquid therethrough and said member being operable, therefore, to impart rotating movement to said spraying device when said valve is in its closed position and flow of washing liquid to said rst spraying means is shut ofi during periods when rinsing liquid is nowing in said second passageway to said second spraying means.

3. ll'n dish washing apparatus, a movable spraying device including rst spraying means having one inlet and a second spraying means having ano-ther inlet, each spraying means being formed with an independent group of discharge openings from which liquid is adapted to be sprayed against dishes and the like to be washed, said movable device comprising unitary structure forming a rst passageway having an inlet adapted to receive washing liquid and communicating only with the inlet of said rst spraying means and also forming another second passageway having an inlet adapted to receive rinsing liquid and communicating only with the inlet of said second spraying means, a combined pump and fluid drive unit operatively connected in said Iirst passageway for effecting flow of washing liquid therethrough toward said first spraying means and constructed and arranged to make use of such washing liquid for imparting movement to said spraying device, a valve in said rst passageway which is movable between open and closed positions, and biasing means including a resilient element operable to move said valve toward its open position, said valve being constructed and arranged to move toward its closed position against the action of said biasing means responsive to force developed by flow of rinsing liquid in said second passageway, and said pump and iiuid drive unit being disposed in said rst passageway ahead of said valve in the direction of flow of washing liquid therethrough and said unit being operable, therefore, to impart movement to said rst spraying means when said valve is in its closed position and flow of washing liquid is shut ofi during the periods when rinsing liquid is nowing in said second passageway to said second spraying means,

4. In dish washing apparatus, a rotatable spraying device including rst spraying means having one inlet and a second spraying means having another inlet, each spraying means being formed with an independent group of discharge openings from which liquid is adapted to be sprayed against dishes and the like to be washed, said rotatable device comprising unitary structure forming a first passageway having an inlet and communicating only with the inlet of said rst spraying means and also forming another second passageway having an inlet and communicating only with the inlet of said secondspraying means, provisions for supplying a rst kind of treating liquid discharged from said iirst spraying means to the inlet of said rst passageway for now therethrough and for supplying a second kind of treating liquid from a source of supply to the inlet of said second passageway for flow therethrough, a combined pump and uid drive unit operatively connected in said rst passageway for effecting now of the rst treating liquid therethrough toward said first spraying means and constructed and arranged to make use of such liquid for imparting rotating movement to said spraying device, valve means in said iirst passageway which is movable between open and closed positions, and biasing means operable to move said valve means toward its open position, said valve means being constructed and arranged to move toward its closed position against the action of said biasing means responsive to force developed by flow of the second treating liquid in said second passageway, and said valve means being disposed in said first passageway at a region between said pump and iiuid drive unit and said rst spraying means to enable said unit to impart rotating movement to said spraying device when said valve means is in its closed position and flow of the iirst treating liquid to said first spraying means is shut off.

5. In apparatus of the kind described, a movable spraying device including a spray head having first and second inlets for liquid, s-aid spray head being formed with two groups of discharge openings from which liquid is adapted to be sprayed against dishes and the like to be washed, said first spray head inlet communicating only with one group or discharge openings and said second spray head inlet communicating only with the other group of discharge openings, all of said discharge openings and both of said inlets forming a part of a movable unitary body, said movabledevice comprising unitary structure forming a rs-t passageway having an inlet adapted to and iiow of the yii-rst treating liquid spray hea-d inlet is shut oli.- 1

receive .aiirst kind oftreating liquid and c ommunicating" only 'with' said iirst "spray head inlet and! also forming another second' passageway Ahaving .an,'inlet"'adapted to receive a second kind oftreatng liquid and communicating. only with said 'second spray head inlet, a' valve in said first passageway which is' movable between `open and Y closed positions, biasing Ameans operablev to move s'aidvalve toward; its open position, said valve beingconstructedandl arranged to move' toward its'closedA position against the action of saidbiasing .means responsive to force developed by flow sageway, power driven means for driving said member during operation of the apparatus, the interior ofjsaid housingv being formed andarranged to be acted upon by liquid circulated therein by saidv member to induce movement of said housing and hence `impart movement to said spraying device,V and said valve being disposed in said first passageway at a region between said pump and said rst sprayhead inlet to enable said member to impart movement to said spraying device lwhen said valve is in its closedposition to said ii-rst 6.- In apparatus ofthe kind described, a movable spraying device including `a spray head having first and second inlets for liquid, said spray head being formed with two groups of discharge open-ings from which liquid is adapted to be sprayed against dishes and the like to be washed, saidfirst spray head inlet communicating only with one group of discharge openings and said second spray head inletcommunicating only with the other group of discharge openings, all of said discharge openings and both of said inlets forming apart of 'a' movable unitary body, said movable device comprising unitary structure forming a iirst passageway having an inletand communieating onlywithsaid Erst-spray head inlet and also forming another second passageway having an inlet and communicating only with said second spray head inlet,l provisions'for introducing a rst kind of treating liquid to' the inlet of said frst passageway for iiow therethrough and for introducing a secondhkind oftreating liquid tothe inlet ofv saidsecond passageway.k for flow therethrough, a combinedpump and fluid drive unitv operatively connected in said-first passageway for eiecting owofthe 1'irst\'treating liquid therethrough toward s-aid rst spray head inlet and constructed andarranged to make useof such first treatingiliquidfforimparting movement to saidspraying device, a valve in said rst passageway which is movable between open and closed of the first treating liquid to said first spray head inlet is shut oni` 7. In apparatus Vofi'thekind described, a ,movable spraying ydevice including a spray headl having first and second inlets for liquid, said spray head being Iforinjed with'- two groups. of ddsch'arge openings from whicl'iiv liquid is adapted to,` be sprayed against dishes andthelike to-*be washed, said irst spray head inlet communicating-only with' one group off discharge openings andfsaid second 'spray head inlet communicating only` with the other group of Adischarge openings, all ofsaid discharge openings and both of said inletsforming a partofa movable unitary-body, said movable' device comprising structure forming a first passageway having an inlet and communicating with sai-d' 'in-st spray head inlet and alsoforming another second passageway having aninfletland communicating with said second spray headfinle't,

provisions for supplying a first kind oitifeating liquid to the 'mlet'o saidiirst passageway and iiowing such liquid therethrough tofsaid ilst spray head inlet and for supplying a secondikind of treating liquid -to the inlet of said second p'a'sn sageway and Alowing'such liquid therethrough to said' second vspray head inlet, a valve in said i'irst passagewayL which is movable between open and closed positions, biasing means including aresilient element -operable'to move said valve toward its open posit-ion, said valve being constructedand arranged to movel toward its closed position against the action of said "biasingmeans' responsive'to force developed'by now of the second treating liquid in saidv second passageway; said-'provisions .including a power driven iiuid drive Aunit operatively connected insaid iirst' passageway and constructed and arranged to make use of the rst treating liquid to` impart movement to'sa1d spraying device, and said valve being disposedfin said first passageway at a region betweenk said rst spray headfinlet andsaid fluid drive unit to enable the latter to impart movement to said spraying device when said valve isin its' closed positionand'iiow of thel rst treating'liqu'id'to said iirst spray headinlet'is shutoff; Y

8. In'. apparatus4 of the kind. described, amovable spraying' device including rst spraying means having onev` inlet and secondl spraying means liaving'an'otherinlet, each'spraying means being" formed with anindependent group; of 1`'discharge openings from'which liquid is adaptedfto be sprayed against dishes' and the like tobe washed; said' movable'spraying device comprising unitary' structure'frorming a nrst passageway having an inletand communieating 'with thfeinilet of said .first spraying means rand alsov formingv another second passageway having anVV inlet' and communicating with the inlet of said second spraying means, provisions for supplying washing liquid to the inletofsaidnrst passageway andV flowing such' li'quid'ltherethrough' under pressure to-saidr'st spraying means andiior supplying rinsing liquid 'from' asource'of supply,A to' the' inlet o'f said'seoond passageway and flowing su'chliquid therethrough" under' 'pressure to said `second spraying means, a valve in said first passageway which is movable .between open and closed positions, biasing means operable to move said valve toward its open position,.said valve being constructed and arranged to move toward its closed position against the action of said biasing means responsive to force developed by now of rinsing liquid in said second passageway, said provisions including a power driven uid drive unit operatively connected in said rst passageway and constructed and arranged to make use of washing 11 liquid to impart movement to said spraying device, said valve being disposed in said first passageway at a region between said nrst spraying means and said fluid drive unit to enable the latter to impart movement to said spraying device when said valve is in its closed position and ow of washing liquid to said rst spraying means is shut olf.

9. In dish washing apparatus, a spraying device including rst spraying means having one inlet and a second spraying means having another inlet, each spraying means being formed with an independent group of discharge openings from which liquid is adapted to be sprayed against dishes and the like to be washed, said device comprising structure forming a rst passageway having an inlet and communicating only with the inlet of said rst spraying means and also forming another second passageway having an inlet and communicating only with the inlet of said second spraying means, provisions for only supplying a first kind of treating liquid vto the inlet of said first passageway and for only supplying a second kind of treating liquid to the inlet of said second passageway, a valve in said nrst passageway which is movable between open and closed positions, and biasing means including a resilient element operable to move said valve towards its open position, said Valve being constructed and arranged to move toward its closed position against the action of said biasing means responsive to force developed by flow of the second treating liquid in said second passageway, thereby automatically shutting off the supply of the first treating liquid through said irst passageway to said rst 'spraying means whenever Vthe second treating liquid is being supplied through said second passageway to said second spraying means.

10. In dish Washing apparatus, a spraying device cmprising'iirst spraying means having one inlet and second spraying means having another inlet, each spraying means being formed with an 4independent group of discharge openings from which liquid is adapted to be sprayed against dishes and the like to be washed, said device comprising structure providing'a rst passageway having an inlet and communicating only with the inlet of said first spraying means and also providing another second passageway having an inlet and communicating only with the inlet of said second spraying means, provisions for introducing washing liquid discharged from said 'sts'pr'ayin'g means to the inlet of said rstp'assagewa'y for flow therethrough and for only introducing rinsing liquid under pressure from a source of supply to the inlet of said second passageway, a valve in said iir'st passageway which is movable between open and closed positions, and biasing 'means including a resilient element operable to move said valve toward its openposition, said valve being constructed and arranged to move toward its closed position against the -action of said biasing means responsive to force developed by iow of rinsing liquid in said second passageway, thereby automatically shutting oi the supply of washing liquid through said rst passageway to said iirst spraying means whenever rinsing liquid is introduced to said second passageway for fiow therethrough to said second spraying means.

11. In apparatus of the kind described, a rotatable s'praying device including a spray head having rst and second inlets for liquid, said spray head being formed with two groups of discharge openings from which liquid is adapted to be sprayed against dishes and the like to be washed. said first spray head inlet communicating only with one group of discharge openings and said second spray head inlet communicating only with the other group of discharge openings, all of said discharge openings and both of said inlets forming a part of a rotatable unitary body, said rotatable spraying device comprising unitary structure forming a iirst passageway having an inlet and communicating only with said first spray head inlet and also forming another second passageway having an inlet and communicating only with said said second spray head inlet, provisions for supplying a iirst kind of treating liquid to the inlet of said first passageway and for supplying a second kind of treating liquid to the inlet of said second passageway, a valve in said iii-st passageway which is movable between open and closed positions, and biasing means including a resilient element operable to move said valve toward its open position, said valve being constructed and arranged to move toward its closed position against the action of said biasing means responsive to force developed by flow of the second treating liquid in said second passageway, therebyV automatically shutting off the supply of the first treating liquid through said nrst passageway to said first spray head inlet Whenever the second treating liquid is being supplied 'through said second passageway to said second spray head inlet.

JOHAN FREDRIK ROBERT KARLSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED L The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IEN'IS 

